Fence-post.



No. 798,730. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

M. E. JOHNSON.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION IILED 1330.22, 1904.

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i @z/ Attorney NTTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed December 22,1904. Serial No. 237,926.

Be it known that 1, Moses E. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specificatirm, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to metal fence-posts, one of the objects being to provide a post of the class described wherein simplicity and economy of construction shall be combined with durability and strength.

A further object of the invention is to provide a post wherein the material is so distributed as to impart extra strength at the points where the post is subjected to the greatest strain, which is usually from a shortdistance below the surface of the ground to about a foot, more or less, above the ground and gradually decreasing toward the top.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hollow post of the class described with rectangular or parallel sided openings or meshes, so that the earth may be packed in, around, and through the post, thus securely and rigidly anchoring it in the ground and preventing it from being raised by the frost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a post embodying vertical or upright wires, rods, or strips encircled by transverse rods, wires, or strips electrically welded to the vertical ones and the ends of the transverse strips welded together, making a complete post with all intersecting or crossing parts electrically welded together, thus producing a post of minimum weight and yet as strong as a solid steel post.

A further and one of the most important objects of the invention is to provide a post in which the metal is so distributed as to give ample strength at all points; also, to provide a post of simple construction and inexpensive of manufacture and as cheap or cheaper than the ordinary wooden post, which must be superseded by some other material on account of the increasing scarcity of wood.

A further object of the invention is to produce a post of the class described which may be driven into the ground by loosening the soil without the necessity of digging a hole to receive it.

Before inserting the post in the ground it is intended, if found desirable, to apply to such part of the post as may need it a protective coating, such as metal plating or a suitable mixture of tar or cement to prevent corrosion, &c.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, Figu rel is a side elevation of a metal fence-post embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the post. Fig. 3 is across-sectiomtl view of one form of post, and Fig. i is a similar view of a postof another form.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings.

The fence-post contemplated in this invention is composed wholly of metal in the form of strips, such as rods or wires, preferably of steel, two distinct sets of strips being employed, upright or longitudinal strips l extending the entire length of the post and transverse strips 2 in the form of endless bands or hoops arranged at suitable intervals apart and connected or united firmly and rigidly to the strips 1 at the points where the strips 1 and 2 cross.

Any desired or requisite number of strips 1 may be used and likewise any number of strips or bands 2. The strips 2 are parallel to each other and at right angles to the strips 1, thus leaving square or rectangular openings or meshes which permit the earth to pass into the open-work or skeleton post after it has been placed in the ground. The extremities of each strip 2 are secured firmly together, preferably by electrically welding them, and said strips are also secured firmly to the strips 1 at all points where the strips 1 and 2 cross in the same manner, thus producing a lightweight post at a low cost, which has the strength of a solid metal or wooden post and greater durability and life.

By arranging the strips or bands 2 horizontally in relation to the surface of the ground they form a multiple anchor for the post when firmly embedded by reason of the sides of the bands being directly opposed to the path of movement of the post in the event of any upward strain or pull or push (as by frost) being imparted thereto, different layers of earth, so to speak, being imposed on the different strips or bands 2.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1

that at a suitable point between the ends of in order to impart greater strength to the post adjacent to the surface of the ground both above and beneath the ground-surface, it being Well understood that a fence-post receives the greatest degree of strain adjacent to the surface of the ground. From said point upward and also downward the strips or bands 2 decrease in numberor frequency until the top and bottom of the post are reached.

A suitable protective covering may be applied to the post to prevent corrosion or decay, such as a coating of metal plating, pitch, tar, cement, or the like.

The post when in complete form being hollow may be driven into the ground without digging the usual hole, it being found desirable to loosen the earth to facilitate the driving operation.

The post may be manufactured in any desired length and of any desired diameter or thickness and may be round, square, or any other shape in cross-section. ire, rods, or

strips of any desired gage may be used in manufacturing the post.

The form of post herein shown and described is capable of rapid manufacture, and electric welding is preferred to any other known strips touching the upright strips on one side only and both sets of strips being welded together at the points where they touch to form rigid integral connections.

2. An all-metal fence-post comprising parallel upright strips,and transverse brace-strips extending at right angles to the upright strips and welded thereto at the crossing-points, the extremities of each transverse strip abutting end to endand being welded together to form rigid integral connections.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES E. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

WV. J. HANETETE, Gnoeen M. SCHMIDT. 

